### 15.2 Adjusting output for different versions of Word

Microsoft makes significant changes to the underpinnings of every new version of Word. RTF output from DITA2Go that looks fine in one version of Word might not look quite right in another version.

Consider which version(s) of Word will be used to view your DITA2Go print RTF output:

Word 2003 (the default)

Word 7/95 and earlier versions

Word 8/97 and later versions

Multiple versions of Word

Word 2003 (the default)

By default, DITA2Go produces RTF output tuned for Word 2003.

Word 7/95 and earlier versions

If your RTF output files will be viewed in a version of Word earlier than Word 8/97, set the following option:

    [WordOptions]
    ; Word8 = Yes (default, for Word8/Office97 and later) or No (earlier)
    Word8 = No

Table 15-1 lists the main differences in the RTF code that DITA2Go generates, based on the value specified for Word8.

Table 15-1 RTF differences between Word 7/95 and later versions

Feature | Word 7/95 | Word 8/97 and later versions | Ref.
Hypertext fields | Not produced | Produced by default | 15.5
Table straddles | Column only | Row and column |
Table cell vertical alignment | No | Yes |
Graphics scale units | twips | himetric (Word 8, 9, and 10 only) | 15.7.4
Image field name |
    IMPORT
    INCLUDEPICTURE

Word 8/97 and later versions

If your RTF output files will be viewed in a version of Word later than Word 8/97, use the default value (Word8=Yes), and consider which of the following additional options you might need:

    [WordOptions]
    ; Word2000 = No (default) or Yes (for Word 9/2000)
    ; Word2002 = No (default) or Yes (for Word 10/XP)
    ; Word2003 = Yes (default) for Word 11/2003 or No
    ; Word2007 = No (default) or Yes (for Word 12/2007)
    ; Word2009 = No (default) or Yes (for Word 13/2009)
    ; Word2010 = No (default, or Yes (for Word 14/2010)

In practice, Word2003 through Word2010 produce the same output; if any one of these is set to Yes, the result is the same. However, specifying either Word2000=Yes or Word2002=Yes (or both) and not any of Word2003 through Word2010 will produce graphics scaled in himetric units rather then twips; see §15.7.4 Preserving graphics scale in Word.

Differences in how Word interprets RTF code are particularly noticeable in the following document features:

Graphics | Scaling units vary among Word versions; see §15.7.4 Preserving graphics scale in Word.
Tables | Straddled rows and rotated text are supported only by some Word versions; see §15.6 Converting tables to print RTF.
Links | Cross references and hypertext links can be made active and updatable in later versions of Word; see §15.5 Converting cross references and hypertext links.
Revision tracking | Revision tracking can be turned on automatically in some versions of Word; see §15.9 Turning on revision tracking in Word.

Multiple versions of Word

If your RTF output files will be viewed in multiple versions of Word, see §15.10.1 Supporting more than one version of Word.

Previous Topic: 15.1.7 Importing a Word template

Next Topic: 15.3 Converting paragraph and character formats

Parent Topic: 15. Converting to print RTF

Sibling Topics:

15.1 Setting up a print RTF project

15.3 Converting paragraph and character formats

15.4 Modifying text appearance

15.5 Converting cross references and hypertext links

15.6 Converting tables to print RTF

15.7 Managing graphics for print RTF

15.8 Including RTF code for Word output

15.9 Turning on revision tracking in Word

15.10 Managing Word output after conversion

15.11 Converting to OpenOffice or StarOffice